Redefining What Counts

Because powerful isn’t perfection—it's showing up, listening in, and doing what you can.

By Erin Galles, Outwild Human Performance

There was a time when I measured everything.

How many reps. How far I ran. How much I lifted. The number on the scale.

I equated progress with numbers, effort with exhaustion, and strength with pushing through—no matter what.

But that version of strength didn't hold up when my body changed.

When autoimmune disease entered the picture, so did fatigue, inflammation, brain fog, and pain that moved around like it had a mind of its own.

And the truth is, some days, my biggest win is just getting out of bed.

So, I had to ask myself:

What really counts?

How fast can I finish a workout?

Or is it that I chose to move my body with care, even when it felt heavy?

Is it lifting heavier weights each week?

Or is it knowing when to dial it back—because I want to train for life, not just for today?

Is it following the program perfectly?

Or permitting myself to adapt it because I know myself better now?

Here's what I've learned:

 Powerful isn't perfection.

 It's presence.

 It’s honesty.

 It's listening to your body and trusting that doing what you can is always enough.

Progress looks different now.

Some days, it's a solid lift.

On other days, it's choosing to rest before my body demands it.

And every time I make that choice with care and self-respect—I'm still growing stronger.

If you're in a season where everything feels slower, messier, or more unpredictable than you'd like—

You’re not failing. You’re adapting.

You’re learning to work with your body, not against it.

That counts. That always counts.

Let's redefine strength together.

Let's build something that lasts.

🖤

Erin